Vesta Split-Flap

Vesta's mechanical character comes from differences between cells. Letters advance through a drum or random sequence, with varied timing across the board. Some arrive while others are still turning, and a final hold determines how long the completed message remains readable.

In Drum mode, each cell has an ordered wheel of characters and color chips. Getting to the next letter means advancing through that wheel, including wrapping around its end. A cell already showing its target does not need to turn. Different journeys through the same sequence produce different lengths of activity across the board.

Wear adds a repeatable pause partway through selected cells' turns. The timing calculation allows for that pause, a small starting delay, and variation in speed, then raises the turning rate where needed to fit the transition's allotted time. The board can hesitate and arrive unevenly while still making room for the completed message to be read.

The clicks are synthesized with short bursts of filtered noise and low tones. Their stereo position follows the column that moved, tying the sound to the visible mechanism. When many cells move together, the audio engine limits how many clicks it plays at once.